Watch this dad in action as he attempts to break the Guinness World Record for cushion spinning
James Ferguson, from West Boldon, put his unusual skill to the test when he embarked on a world record breaking attempt.
The dad-of-two honed the art of spinning a cushion on his finger as a teenager and never thought much more of it.
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Hide AdBut after hearing that the unusual talent had become a Guinness World Record, James decided to see if he could beat the top time.
The previous record was held by former Britain's Got Talent contestant Thomas "Bounce" Senior with a time of 15 minutes and seven seconds.
And James managed to beat Thomas’ feat when he took part in the challenge at the Old Fox pub in Gateshead, on Friday, June 14.
Cheered on by a crowd, James managed to achieve the time of one hour and four minutes – with the record to be officially verified by Guinness World Records.
The 34-year-old said: “It’s pretty random!
”It all started when I was around 13-years-old.
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Hide Ad“I was just bored watching TV and taught myself to spin the cushion on my finger.
“It wasn’t until recently that I realised that someone had made a record out of it, so I thought I could have a go at that.”
In the run up to the competition, James practiced four times a week using a 50cm by 50cm cushion – the same one he uses every time.
During training sessions, James has been known to keep the cushion spinning for one hour and 54 minutes.
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Hide AdThe industrial chemist said: “I put the shorter time down to the pressure of the day and all the people watching!”
The world-record attempt was live-streamed on YouTube and funds were raised on the day for organisation Friends of Felling Park.
Two spectators acted as witnesses and time keepers with James then completing forms and attaching statements and photographs as evidence.
Once the record is confirmed it will make it onto the Guiness World Records website.
Jan Colman, who runs the Old Fox pub with Karl Parkin, said: “Everyone had a go at it and it’s not easy as it looks!
“Hats off to him for doing it.”